Folding chaise longue



Feb. 8, 1944. w c 2,341,168

FOLDING GHAISE LONGUE Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 8, 1944. 5.5. WEIRICK 2,341,153

FOLDING CHAISE LONGUE Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 FOLDING CHAISE LONGUE Burnell E. Weirick,Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Kalamazoo Sled Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,272

' elongated, parallel slats 4 secured at their ends 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding chaises longues.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a folding chaise longue or garden chair which isautomatically adjustable from a position enabling an upright sittingposture to a fully reclined posture, or to any position intermediatethese extremes, as desiredby the user.

Second, to provide a chair structure of the foregoing type which isexceedingly simple in its parts and relatively stable in erectedposition, and which is capable of being quickly and easily collapsed toa highly compact form for shipment or storage.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in theclaims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: 1 Fig. 1 is a side perspective viewillustrating a chair or chaise longue embodying my invention, the partsbeing shown in one adjusted position thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating the chair adjusted to areclining position.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating the parts in partiallycollapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the partswhen fully collapsed.

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the foot end of thechair in its erected position, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary views I in section on lines 66,l|, respectively, of Fig. 1, further illustrating certain detailrelationships of the parts. 7

The present collapsible chaise lounge or garden chair structure includesvarious seat, back, arm and strut members or elements operativelyassociated with one another in such manner that a very comfortable andstable support is provided in any adjusted position of the parts. At thesame time the highly simplified character of the parts enables theconstruction to be readily collapsed for shipment or storage.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l in general designatesthe folding lounge chair or chaise longue of my invention, including anelongated combined seat and leg rest member 2 having elongated rigidparallel side bars v3. Intermediate these bars adjacent the front end ofmember 2, I provide a plurality of to the transverse bars .5 whichextend between the side bars .3 intermediate their ends. These slatspreferably rest on a transverse rod 6 which constitutes ,a stop orabutment for the front leg unit I pivoted to the side bars 3 at 8.

j The reference numeral 9 in general designates a back or backrestmember including rigid side bars 10 provided adjacent the lower endthereof with bracket-like pivot plates ll; Theseat side bars 3 arepivoted to these plates at l2. It will be notedthat a portion l3 of. theback side members .10 projects downwardlybeyond pivot plate H so" as toengage the bottom surface of the seat member bars 3 in the fullreclining position'of the'members 2, 9, illustrated in Fig. 2, thuspreventing further pivotal movement'of the mem-' bers relative to oneanother in that direction.

The back member side bars II] are connected by a transverse rod [.4 atthe top thereof and the seat member side bars 3 having a similartransverse rod l5 intermediate the length there of and rearwardly of thefoot supporting slat unit. (See Fig.5.) A flexible canvas web back andseat element for supporting the body of the user is secured at itsopposite ends to the transverse rods I4 and I5, and if desired, furtherstretched lengthwise of the structure over the aforesaid canvas webs,being secured at its oppio site ends to the rod I4 and transverse bar 5,re- 'spectively.

A pair of arms or arm rests 2! are pivoted'toa pivot plate 22 locatedintermediate the length of the back member 9, about one foot above thepivot plate II. These arm rests are likewise lpivotally connectedadjacent their forward ends to the upper ends of .a pair of arm braces'23 by means of pivot plates .24, the arm braces 2'3 being in turnpivoted at their lower ends to the-side bars 3 intermediate the endsthereof. The last named pivot point 25 is spaced from the pivot 12 ofthe seat and back members a distance equal to the distance between thearm Jpivots on the plates .22 and 24, respectively. Coincident with thepivot point of arm braces or bars 2.3 on the arm'. pivot plates 2. 1,the said braces and arms have pivoted thereto "the forwardly inclinedrear leg uni-tat, including leg side bars 211 pivoted to plates-24,transverse crossed'braci-ng-slats 28 and wheels 28| rotatably mounted onbars 21 adjacent the lower rear ends thereof for rolling engagement withthe ground or other supporting surface.

Coincident with the pivot point of arm rests 2| on the rear member pivotplate 22, the said arms likewise have pivoted thereto the strut bars 29which project downwardly and forwardly for end abutting engagement withthe rear leg side bars 21 intermediate the length of the latter andforwardly projecting fingers 39 on the free ends of strut bars 29 areprovided for engagement with the inner surfaces of the leg bars 21 tomaintain alinement and prevent lateral play. The strut bars 29 areconnected to the leg bars 21 adjacent their pivotal connection to thearms and braces 23bythelinks 3|. H

In use, the chair is set up in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, withthe swinging ends of the strut bars 29 abuttingly engaging the rearsurface of the leg side bars 21 of the rear leg unit 26, the back member9 being swung partially rearwardly in counter-clockwise direction to adesired angular relationship to the seat member. The rear leg unit isswung rearwardly'in clockwise direction about its pivots until itengages strut bar 29. This provides a very stable support. If the userdesires to fully recline he merely stretches out and leans backwardlysomewhat, causing the back member 9 of the chair to pivot about itspivot I2 to the seat member 2 until the parts assume the position shownin Fig. 2. During this relative swinging of the seat and back members 2,9, respectively, the leg unit 26 rolls rearwardly on its wheels 28! andthe arm rests 2| shift somewhat relative to the arm brace and strut bar23, 29, respectively, however the'last named strut bar continues toabuttingly engage the leg 21, being maintained in engagement therewithby the connecting link 3|. It will be understood that the structuralelements above referred to are duplicated on each side of the chairstructure although in certain cases in the above description I havereferred only to single elements. It will be appreciated from theforegoing that the respective pivot points of the strut bar 29 and'therear legs 21 to the rear and front of the arm rests 2|, the pivot pointof arm brace23 to seat member 2 and the pivot |2 of the seatandrearmembers define the corners of a parallelogram permitting freeswinging of the parts in the aforesaid collapsing anderectingmovements'. Strut bar 29 looks this parallelogram againstcomplete collapse in the rearward direction while enabling it to becollapsed forwardly as will presently be described. Enough friction isprovided at the various pivotal connections to resistexcessive loosenessat the joints and enable the parts to maintain any position in whichthey are set.

The user may position himself in any one of many very comfortablereclining, semi-reclining or sitting positions. The chair is entirelyautomatic in these movements, no special provision i being needed forthe adjustments. The parts are exceedingly simple and. in erectedposition are effectively braced and trussed so as to' resist loosenessor wabbling at the pivotal connections.

The chair may be easily collapsed for storage or shipment by merelypivoting the rear member 9 forwardly in clockwise direction relative tothe seat member about pivot l2, as illustrated in Fig. 3, bringing thesemembers into parallelism. The front legs 1 are then swung rearwardlyinto parallel, telescoped relation on the inner sides of the seat memberbars 3, and as a final step the rear leg unit 26 is swung forwardly incounterclockwise direction about its pivot to the arms to bring the samein side by side relation to the bottom of the seat member 2 at the frontend thereof. This operation is performed in a very few seconds time andresults in a compact, collapsed relation of the parts, as illustrated inFig. 4.

The free shiftability of the strut bar 29 makes possible this highlycompact collapsing of the parts, swinging forwardly and upwardlycounterclockwise as leg unit 26 is brought to collapsed position.Notwithstanding this, strut bar 29 effectively braces and supports theseat and back members 2, 9 in erected position, forming with the legs 21engaged thereby and the pivotally connected arm rests 2| and arm braces23, a truss construction which effectively resists wracking or undesiredcollapse. I

It should be noted that the pivot plates or brackets l, 24 and 25 allproject from the meme her to which they are fixedly secured so that thepart pivoted thereto may collapse flat against the part carrying thepivot member.

An embodiment of the invention which incorporates the principles of theinvention in a highly desirable manner has been illustrated anddescribed. It should be understood that the foregoing terminologyjisused descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with fullintention to include equivalents of the features shown and described,Within the scope of the following claims. 1

Having thu described my invention,.what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotallyconnected seat and back members swingable relative to one another from acollapsible position in side by side parallelism to selected angularlyrelated positions including a fully erected reclining position in whichthe back member constitutes an extension of the seat member, armspivotally. connected to said back member to project forwardly. thereofabove the seat member in approximateparallelism therewith in erectedposition, arm supporting bars pivotally connectedto the forward ends ofsaid arms and to said seat member intermediate the length thereof; arear leg unit pivoted to said arms at the pivot point of the supporting.bars thereto, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardlyfrom said pivot point and provided with wheels rollingly engageablewitha. supporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms atthe pivot of the latter to the back member, the free end of said strutbars abutting ly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit inoperative position thereof to maintain the arms inapproximateparallelism with the seat member, and link meanspivotallyconnected at its ends to said free ends of the'strut bars andto said leg unit above the point of abutting engagement of the strutbars therewith, saidleg unit being collapsible forwardly and upwardlybeneath said seat member and said link means being actuated by said lastnamed'collapsing movementto elevate said strut bars into inoperativeposition in close, approximately-parallel adjacency to said arms.

2. A collapsible chair or lounge structure; comprising pivotallyconnected seat and back members swingable 180 relativeto one anotherfrom a collapsible position in parallelism to selected .angularlyrelated positions including a fully erected reclining position in whichthe back member constitutes an extension of the seat member, armspivotally connected to said back member to project forwardly thereofabove the seat member in approximate parallelism therewith in erectedposition, arm supporting bars pivotally connected to the forward ends ofsaid arms and to said seat member intermediate the length thereof, arear leg unit pivoted to said arms at the pivot point of the supportingbars thereto, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardlyfrom said pivot point and having movable engagement with a supportingsurface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms at the pivot ofthelatter to the back member, the free end of said trust bars abuttinglyengaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operative positionthereof to maintain the arms in approximate parallelism with the seatmember, and link means pivotally connected at its ends to said strutbars and to said leg unit in offset relation to the point of abuttingengagement of the strut bars therewith, said leg unit being collapsibleforwardly and upwardly beneath said seat member and said link meansbeing actuated by said last named collapsing movement to elevate saidstrut bars into inoperative position in close, approximately paralleladjacency to said arms.

3. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotallyconnected seat and back members swingable from collapsed position toselected angularly related positions, arms connected to said backmember, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms, said leg unit beinginclined downwardly and rearwardly and having movable engagement with asupporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms, thefree ends of said strut bars abuttingly engaging the rear of saidinclined leg unit in operative position thereof, and link meanspivotally connected at its ends to said strut bars and to said leg unitin offset relation to the point of abutting engagement of the strut barstherewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly and upwardlybeneath said seat member and said link means being actuated by said lastnamed collapsing movement to elevate said strut bars into inoperativeposition.

4. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotallyconnected seat and back members swingable to selected angularly relatedpositions, arms connected to said back member, a rear leg unit pivotedto said arms, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly andprovided with wheels rollingly engageable with a supporting surface,strut bars pivotally connected to said arms, the free end of said strutbars abuttingly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operativeposition thereof, and link means pivotally connected at its ends to saidfree ends of the strut bars and to said leg in which the back memberconstitutes an extension of the said member, arms pivotally connected tosaid back-member, arm supporting bars pivotally connected to said armsand to said seat member, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms adjacentthe pivotal point of the braces thereto, said leg unit being inclineddownwardly and rearwardly from said pivot to the arms and having movableengagement with a supporting surface, and strut means pivotallyconnected to said arms adjacent the pivot of the latter to the backmember, said strut means abuttingly engaging said inclined leg unit inoperative position thereof, and being pivotally connected to said legunit above the point of the abutting engagement of the strut meanstherewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly beneath said seatmember and simultaneously actuating said strut means to inoperativeposition to said arms.

6. A collapsible lounge structure, comprising pivotally connected seatand back members swingable relative to one another from an inoperativecollapsible position in side by side parallelism to the fully erectedreclining position in which the back member constitutes an extension ofthe said member, arms pivotally connected to said back member, a rearleg unit pivoted to said arms, said leg unit being inclined downwardlyand rearwardly from said pivot to the arms and having movable engagementwith a supporting surface, and strut means pivotally connected to saidarms adjacent the pivotof the latter to the back member, said strutmeans abuttingly engaging said inclined leg unit in operative positionthereof, and being pivotally connected to said leg unit in spacedrelation to the point of the abutting engagement of the strut meanstherewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly beneath said seatmember and simultaneously actuating said strut means to inoperativeposition to said arms.

'7. A collapsible chair structure, comprising a frame includingpivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to oneanother, means for limiting said swinging movement, and arm restspivoted at the rear thereof to said back member, a leg unit pivoted tosaid frame having wheels on the free end thereof rollingly engageablewith a supporting surface as said seat and back members are pivotedrelative to one another, strut bars pivotally connected at one end tosaid frame and abuttingly engaging said leg unit at their opposite ends,and links pivotally connected to said leg unit adjacent the pivot pointthereof to the frame and to said strut bars adjacent said opposite endsthereof, and maintaining said strut bars in predetermined relation tosaid leg unit in erected condition of the chair structure, said leg unitbeing swingable forwardly to collapsed position adjacent the seat unitand simultaneously retracting said link and strut bar to which the sameis connected to inoperative position.

8. A collapsible chair structure, comprising a frame including pivotallyconnected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, meansfor limiting said swingin movement, and arm rests pivoted at the rearthereof to said back member, a leg unit pivoted to said frame, said unitbeing movably engageable with a supporting surface as said seat and backmembers are pivoted relative to one another, strut bars pivotallyconnected at one end to said frame and abuttingly engaging said leg unitat their opposite ends, and means pivotally connecting said leg unitadjacent the pivot point thereof to the frame and said strut barsadjacent said opposite ends thereof, and maintaining said strut bars inpredetermined relation to said leg unit in erected condition of thechair structure, said leg unit being swingable forwardly to collapsedposition adjacent the seat unit and simultaneously retracting said lastnamed means and strut bar to which the same is connected to inoperativeposition.

' 9. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and backmembers swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted atthe rear thereof to said back member, a brace member pivotally connectedto said seat member and to said arm rest member adjacent the frontthereof, a leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at one endthereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm restmember at the pivot point of the rest and brace members, a strutpivotally connected to said rest and back members adjacent the point ofpivotal connection thereof and abuttingly engaging said leg unit, and alink pivotally connected to said strut and to said leg unit adjacent thepoint of pivotal connection of the latter to said arm rest member, saidleg unit being swingable to collapsed position adjacent the seat memberand simultaneously retracting said link and strut to inoperativecollapsed position.

10. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and backmembers swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted'at'the rear thereof to said back member, a'brace member sustaining saidarm rest membena leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at oneend thereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm restmember, a strut pivotally connected to said rest and back membersadjacent the point ofpivotal connection thereof and abuttingly engagingsaid leg unit, and a link pivotally connected to said strut and to saidleg unit adjacent the point of pivotal connection of the latter to saidarm rest member, said leg unit being swingable to collapsed positionadjacent the seat member and simultaneously retracting said link andstrut to inoperative collapsed position. 4

11. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and backmembers swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted atthe rear thereof to said back member, a brace member sustaining said armrest member, a leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at one endthereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm restmember, a strut pivotally connected to one of said rest and back membersand abuttingly engaging said leg unit, and a link pivotally connected tosaid strut and to said leg unit adjacent the point of pivotal connectionof the latter to said arm rest member, said leg unit being swingable t0collapsed position adjacent the seat member and simultaneouslyretracting said link and strut to inoperative collapsed position.BURNELL E. WEIRICK.

